The most popular methods of vision improvement includes glasses, contacts and laser surgery. However, very few people know that there is a natural alternative called a program of eye exercises that can help you improve your vision naturally without glasses. Therefore, many people are wondering why their eye doctor never told them about eye exercises as an alternative natural treatment for various vision conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

This article is certainly not intended to condemn the traditional medical eye care industry. There are many well-meaning wonderful optometrists out there who are doing some good by prescribing glasses to many people helping them to see clearly. However, the fact of the matter is that traditional optometrists in the traditional eye care industry are not trained in the field of nutrition, natural healing and various aspects of health care associated with alternative medicine. They are trained to diagnose eye conditions and prescribe drugs, glasses and contacts as a treatment for vision problems and eye diseases. Often, there are cases wherey it's simply a case wherey they are not aware of natural techniques such as eye exercises due to the limited focus of their education.

Another explanation is the fact that the traditional eye care industry only focuses on improving the symptoms of eye conditions and eye diseases but really does not focus on correcting the underlying problems that caused your vision conditions and eye diseases in the first place.

Some other reasons are also related to economics. There is a specialized field of natural eye care professionals and practitioners that deal with the field of natural vision improvement. This particular field of eye care is called behavioral optometry. Instead of prescribing glasses the behavioralal optometrist looks at the various underlying causes and factors that refer to vision problems. Some of these relate to poor nutrition, lack of eye exercises, the need for eye relaxation techniques and stress reduction, to help the patient to develop, improve, train and upgrade the visual system so that it functions more efficiently. The average mean annual salary of a traditional optometrist in the United States varies from state to state. However, it ranges anywhere from $ 114,000 a year to $ 180,000 a year. On the other hand, the salary of behavioral optometrists is about $ 35,610 a year. There are less behavioral optometrists than there are traditional optometrists simply due to the fact that it is not a profitable industry. Therefore, very few people are aware that these natural eye care practitioners exist.

There are a variety of reasons why doctors do not tell you about eye exercises as an alternative vision improvement option to glasses, contacts and laser surgery. Some of these relate to the fact that traditional eye care practitioners are not trained in the field of alternative medicine but receive an education that focuses on correcting the symptoms of your eye condition rather than correcting the underlying causes. The natural equivalent to traditional optometry is called behavioral optometry. Behavioral optometrists are fewer in number in the eye care industry due to the fact that this particular field is not a booming and profitable industry. Ultimately, in most cases, your traditional optometrist will tell you that eye exercises do not work and that there is no scientific evidence to prove that such natural techniques are effective. However, in spite of the fact that they have debunked the science of eye exercises, according to the American Vision institute, the truth about eye exercises is that more than 10,000 patients have been successfully crowned with these effective natural vision improvement techniques.

Apricots come from the family of fruits that are closely related to peaches, plums, prunes and nectarines. You can eat this fruit when it is fresh and it makes a good addition to your healthy salad. Some of the vitamin content in apricots includes Vitamin A, vitamin C, Potassium, Copper and dietary fiber to name a few. When we think about vision foods the traditional foods such as carrots, broccoli, spinach and kale come to mind. However, did you know that apricots are also good for improving your eye health as well? Therefore, here are some vision benefits of apricots. Additionally, here are the different ways that apricots help to improve the various aspects of your general health as well:

Eye Health Benefits: Apricots are a rich source of the vision nutrient Vitamin A. It is abundant in beta carotene and consistants of a higher level of this nutrient than carrots.Both of these nutrients are vital in supporting better eye health. For example, research studies have shown the benefits of Vitamin A in relieving dry eye and reducing the risks for the age related eye disease, macular degeneration. Additionally, another important antioxidant nutrient contained in apricots is Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that is known for its free radical fighting properties. It can protect healthy eye cells from damaging cells that cause eye diseases due to its ability to boost the immune system. Apricots are a source of carotenoids such as Lutein and Zeaxanthin. These help to reduce the risks for age related vision diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration. This vision food consist of about 31.15 mcg of Lutein and Zeaxanthin. Researchers reveal that 3 or more servings a day of fruits that include apricots can stave off vision loss associated with the aging process.

General Health Benefits: This vision food supports better heart health and it consists of Vitamin C, Potassium and Fiber; 3 nutritional elements that collectively improve the health of the cardiovascular system. Vitamin C fights free radicals in the heart. Potassium is good for reducing blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels in the arteries. Additionally, Fiber has cholesterol lowering capabilities that lead to the cleansing of the linings of the blood vessels and arteries. Due to its potent carotenoid and antioxidant content it is effective in safeguarding healthy cells from the damaging action of harmful free radicals that cause the growth of cancer cells. Therefore, it has cancer fighting properties. According to health experts the seeds in apricots are helpful in the treatment of cancer. Due to its nutritional content in Potassium, calcium, Iron, Phosphorous and copper, it has properties that reduce the risks for conditions such as Osteoporosis and builds strong bones and cartilage.

Many people leave it far too long to get an eyesight test, because the signs that you may need to wear glasses or contact lenses often develop slowly, so people get used to their poor vision. It can come as quite a revelation, though, when they do wear glasses for the first time and they discover just how bad their eyesight has become.

If you have been wondering whether it might be time for an eye test, here are the main warning signs that you might need to start wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Frequent headaches

There are many things that can cause headaches, including working for too long looking at a computer screen, but if the headaches have become a daily event for you, that could be a sign that you need an eyesight test. Headaches that are caused by poor eyesight usually happen after you have been concentrating on something for a long period of time. They usually start at the front of your head and then move along the sides of your head to your temples.

Blurry vision

Blurred vision and difficulty focussing on things can be an indication of a problem with your eyesight, but it could also be a sign of more serious problems as well. If you are experiencing a blurred vision, you should make an appointment with an optician straight away.

Difficulty seeing at night

If you are finding more difficult to see in failing light or darkness than you used to, that too could be a sign that you need a sight test. You may simply have noticed that you tend to need a light switched on to read when the light is not particularly good.

You can see things at a distance

If you can not see things at a distance very well, that could be an indication that you are near-sighted, which can easily be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. The first signs of this might be that have difficulty reading road signs when you are driving or you need to move to the front row of a cinema to watch a film.

Your eyes feel strained or tired

If you keep rubbing your eyes because they feel tired, that could be because you are straining your eyes to see things properly. This might manifest itself in your feeling generally tired when you have spent time focusing on looking at anything, such as a computer screen or when you have been reading

You have to squint to see things

If you find yourself squinting a lot, that could be a sign that you need an eye examination. People squint, because it reduces the size of the pupils and that can help bring things into focus. While doing that may help for a while, the only real solution is probably to start wearing corrective lenses.

It takes a long time for your eyes to adjust to changes in light

How well the eyes adjust to changes in light is a good indication of the eye health. If bright lights dazzle you or it takes a long time for your eyes to adjust to the dark, it's time to get your eyes checked out.

Holding books away from you to read them

As we get older, our eyesight weakens and many people need reading glasses when they get a bit older. One of the first signs that you may need eyeglasses to read is when you start holding books and newspapers away from you to read them.

Your eyes keep watering

If you find that your eyes keep watering for no apparent reason, then that is another sign that your eyesight is not as good as it could be.

You have not had an eye exam in a long time

If you have not had a sight test for a long time, then you might be suffering some of the above symptoms completely unnecessarily. It is recommended that adults get a sight test at least every two years, so if you have not had a sight test for longer than that, get yourself off to see an optician!

Sunflower seeds are an excellent snack if you are interested in supporting your eye health. The vitamin and mineral content of sunflower seeds includes Vitamins A, C and a good source of vitamin E, Copper and Vitamin B 1. Some additional nutrients include Magnesium, Selenium, Vitamin B 6, Niacin and Folate to name a few. These seeds like other nuts are rich sources of the vision supporting nutrient Omega- 3 Fatty acids. Therefore, here are some of the vision benefits of sunflower seeds for eye health as well as those that refer to different aspects of your general health:

Eye Health Benefits: the vision supporting nutrients in sunflower seeds includes Vitamins A, C, E Lutein and Beta Carotene to name a few. Vitamins A, C and E are major antioxidants critical in improving eyesight due to their protective properties in safeguarding eye cells from free radical damage. Sunflower seeds are particularly rich in vitamins A and C. Research shows that people with high antioxidant blood levels were able to cut their risks for age related eye diseases such as cataracts. Research also supports that people who consume a variety of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables and certain types of nuts rich in a variety of vitamins such as Vitamins A, C and E were able to cut their risks for macular degeneration.

Better Heart Health: Vitamin E is a major antioxidant that supports better heart health. It plays a role in increasing cardiovascular health by blocking damage free radicals responsible for creating the negative process in the body that relates to the oxidation of cholesterol – a negative process that results in the buildup of plaque on the artery walls that leads to heart problems such as stroke and heart attacks. Therefore, its antioxidant action neutralizes harmful free radical activity that leads to heart problems thereby promoting heart health. Studies suggest that there is a benefit in the reduction of atherosclerosis as people who consume good amounts of Vitamin E cut their risks for heart attack.

Lowers Cholesterol Levels: This is due to its content in Phytosterols (natural compounds found in plants that reduce cholesterol levels.) Phytosterols have a variety of health benefits in terms of protecting general health For instance, they reduce cholesterol levels, boost immunity and also increase the body's defenses against cancer.

When it comes to improving eyes, heart and cholesterol health, it is a smart idea to make this vision friendly food an integral part of your daily diet.

When it comes to feeding your eyes the right nutrition a number of various nutrients come to mind. Some of these include antioxidants such as Lutein and Zeaxanthin, Vitamins A, C and E and Zinc to name a few. Some other important nutrients are essential in maintaining healthy eyesight also include nutrients such as Bilberry extract. Another important nutrient that your eyes need to stay in shape that is often overlooked is Copper. What exactly is copper? Copper is a vital vision supporting nutrient that plays a role in maintaining health even though it is only needed in tiny amounts to perform necessary functions in the body. Its functions in the body include building strong tissue, maintaining blood volume and supplying energy to the cells in the body. It also helps to maintain a healthy immune system. It is found in the liver, brain, the bones and the muscles. A deficiency in this trace mineral can cause anemia. This nutrient also plays a role in improving and protecting eye health. Therefore, here are some of the benefits of copper for better vision health:

Eye Health Benefits: It encourages the growth of connective tissue in the eyes that supports proper eye structure. Copper and the nutrient Zinc should be combined together. Vision supplements that contain copper also include the vision nutrient zinc. This is due to the fact that a large consumption of Zinc can result in a copper deficiency that can lead to anemia. This nutrient also improves vision health and reduces the risks for the age related eye disease macular degeneration. Copper is one of the recommended eye health nutrients included in the AREDS Study, (The Age Related Eye Disease Study), along with the vision supporting nutrients, Vitamins A, CE and Zinc for cutting the risks for macular degeneration.

General Health Benefits of Copper: This trace mineral is also important in supporting brain function, bone development and energy production. Research studies suggest that this nutrient also aids in the reduction of the risks for osteoporosis due to its health benefits of encouraging the development of healthy collagen. Therefore, it can tie aching joints. It guarantees the development of healthy bones, skin, hair and tissues in the body. It also aids in heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and preventing atherosclerosis. This is due to the fact that a deficiency in this nutrient can cause heart rhythm problems.

Good food sources of Copper include eggs, poultry, whole grain cereals, avocados, nuts, seeds, legumes, and liver to name a few. Nutritionists recommend that you should not exceed a dosage above 2 mg per day. This is due to the fact that exceeding this dosage leads to toxicity and also inhibits the absorption of Zinc.

When it comes to caring for your eyes one of the critical factors that you need to take into consideration is relieving stress and tension in the visual system. This is due to the fact that stress, tension and strain in the eyes causes poor vision.Therefore, the key to improve vision health is to eliminate eye strain. Many people express concern about the fact that while reading their eyes tend to feel strained and tense. There are some eye relaxation techniques that you can put into practice in order to correct this problem. This includes practicing good visual habits while reading. An example of such a technique is to get into the habit of looking up from your close up work for 8-10 seconds for every 20 minute interval. However, there are other eye relaxation eye exercises that are helpful in eliminating this problem. Therefore, if relieving eye while while reading is a major concern that you have here are some tips that you can put into practice while reading to relate eye strain:

Most people are used to reading in such a way that they are only focusing on the individual words on the printed material that they are reading. However, this traditional type of reading actually induces eye strain and tension in the eye muscles. This increase in tension and strain in the eyes leads to bad or blurry eyesight. It is not the activity itself of reading that causes vision problems, it is however, the way that we use our eyes when we are reading that determinates whether or not we are doing something to improve our vision health or worsen it. Considering the fact that traditional ways of reading by staring at the words continuously can induce eye strain and blurry eyesight, the key is to learn a new reading technique that helps to relax the eyes and release stress and tension in the visual system. This can actually improve vision health and increase eyesight.

Here is a reading technique that will help you to relax the eye muscles and relieve stress and tension in the eyes. Instead of reading by focusing on the words in the printed material you are reading get into the habit of reading by focusing on the spaces between the lines or margins instead of focusing on the lines themselves. The reason for this is that reading while focusing on the words causes the eyes to become tired, strained and induces poor eyesight. Reading while focusing on the spaces between the lines with a sweeping focus from line to line and margin to margin is an effortless activity for the eyes that induces relaxation, causes rapid reading and improvements eyesight. This is due to the fact that looking at a white background or white space while reading releases stress and tension in the eye muscles and improvements vision health.

Peas are a great side dish especially with foods such as mashed potatoes and chicken. One particularly tasty way to prepare peas is to combine them with mushrooms and onions in a delicious creamy sauce. While peas are appetizing addition to your healthy chicken meals did you know that peas are also good for supporting better eye health? Therefore, here are the eye health benefits of peas for better vision health:

Green peas are a popular vegetable abundant in vitamins, minerals and also phytosterols as well. This sweet vegetable is rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C has free radical fighting properties that relate to protecting the body from infections. This nutrient also guards against inflammation in the body. In terms of additional nutritional coverage peas include Folic acid, Vitamin K, Vitamin A and the Vitamin B complex vitamins such as Thiamine, Niacin and Pantothenic acid. Additional nutrients include Zinc, Iron, Copper and calcium.

Eye Health Benefits: Due to their rich antioxidant flavonoids such as Lutein and carotenes such as Zeaxanthin and Vitamin A, green peas have vision supporting nutrients necessary in maintaining healthy eyesight. Lutein and Zeaxanthin are essential in reducing the risks for age related eye diseases and protect the macular of the eyes from free radical damage thereby maintaining healthy vision.

Weight Loss Benefits: This vegetable is actually lower in calories than beans and they are also low in fat as well. These qualities make green peas a good addition to your weight loss program.

Improvements Immunity: Peas consists of health promoting nutrients that include Copper, Zinc, Calcium, Iron and Manganese. These nutrients work together in the body to reduce the negative effects of free radical agents and therefore boost the body's immune system's protection against diseases.

Regulation of Blood Sugar Levels: green peas are a good source of protein and they are also a good source of fiber as well. Fiber benefits the digestive system due to the fact that it slows down the absorption of food in the digestive tract and this particular action creates weight loss benefits. Proteins also play a good role in absorbing and reducing fat stores in the body.

Digestive Support: The fiber content in peas makes it a good digestive aid for a properly working digestive system. The fiber content in peas aids in good elimination. Additionally, fiber is involved in the various important metabolic processes in the body.

Peas are a worthy addition to your diet for maintaining healthy eyesight. Their wide array of vitamins, minerals and nutrients make this vegetable a powerhouse for better eye health, good digestive health, stronger immunity and the proper regulation of blood sugar levels for maximum health.

Many people say that if food is healthy for you it does not taste good. However, when it comes to protecting and improving your eye health this is a common misconception. In fact many healthy foods that are good for your eyes are also appealing to your taste buds. These include cherries, grapes, watermelons, oranges, walnuts and dark chocolate to name a few. Plums are another example of a tasty healthy food to improve eyesight that supports better vision health. Therefore, here are some reasons why you should include plums as part of a healthy diet to improve vision and protect your eye health.

Plums are packed with vitamins and minerals such as Vitamins B1, Thiamine, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), B-6 and Vitamin E. Additional nutrients include vitamins A and C, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron and Zinc to name a few. This is a good snack if you are watching your calories. It is very low in calorie content and also rich in fiber that gives it properties useful in terms of weight loss.

Eye Health Benefits: Research provided by The Archives of Ophthalmology shows that a serving of 3 or more fruits including plums can help to reduce the risks for the age related vision disease macular degeneration. The vitamin A and beta-carotene content in plums are beneficial in maintaining healthy eyesight. This tasty fruit also possesses carotenoids that help to protect the macular tissues of the retina and reduces the risks for age related vision disorders.

Maintaining Healthy Cholesterol Levels: A research study revealed that the juice from plums and prunes has health promoting properties that aid in raising the good cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and reducing the bad cholesterol, LDL cholesterol.

Improves Brain Health: Research shows that the flavonoids present in plum juice can reduce cognitive decline. This is due to the fact that these flavonoids play a role in reducing inflammation in the brain. Also research shows that this type of juice has health promoting phytonutrients that improve the neurological function of the brain thereby improving memory and learning.

Boosts Immune System: Due to its Vitamin C content boosts the body's immune system's defenses against inflammation and infections. Oriental plums increase the body's production of nitric oxide and aid in neutralizing harmful cells in the body.

Digestive Benefits: Its rich source in fiber assists in an efficiently working digestive system. It also aids in good elimination due to its sorbitol and isatin content.

Better Heart Health: Research shows that regular consumption of plums results in an improvement in circulation to the arteries of the heart. This promotes better blood flow, and an efficiently working cardiovascular system. This also reduces the risks for heart attacks and strokes.

Cancer Prevention: This fruit is abundant in antioxidants and phytonutrients. These compounds are important in stunting the growth of cancer cells. Therefore, eating plums on a regular basis can aid in cancer prevention.

If you are searching for a healthy snack to help you maintain healthy eyesight while protecting important aspects of your general health, then, plums are a good nutritional choice for keeping your eyes in good shape.

Each January, millions of people take the pledge to abstain from alcohol and go 'dry' during January. Going dry for January can have many benefits and allows us to ditch the hangover, lose some weight and save some money in the process.

It is no secret that drinking to excess puts the body under severe strain and can lead to serious health complications, but did you know how much your eyes could be at risk?

Before you start to panic, please remember that drinking in moderation is illegally to harm your eye health, but long term abuse or short term binge drinking can damage your optic nerves. The optic nerves are used to carry visual information from the eyes to the brain. Toxic Amblyopia is a term used to describe damage to the optic nerve caused by under-nutrition or exposure to a substance harmful to the optic nerve such as alcohol.

Although it may affect your vision temporarily and can lead to blurred vision or momentary dizziness, drinking in moderation should not have any long term lasting effects on your eyesight. These symptoms generally disappear when you sober up.

Abusing alcohol can put you at a higher risk of developing eye conditions that can permanently damage your vision. It is for this reason that heavy drinkers are more likely to develop some degree of reducing eyesight than those who drink in moderation.

Alcohol slows the communication between the brains neurotransmitters making it harder for information to pass between the brain and the body. Over time, this can diminish eye muscle co-ordination, causing double or distorted vision.

Other effects of alcohol consumption include bloods eyes caused by swollen blood vessels, 'Myokmia' (or the twitching of the eyelid) and an increased sensitivity to light due to migraines. Excessive drinking is also known to improve your ability to see contrasting colors or different shades by slowing down the reaction time of your pupils.

To minimize health risks caused by alcohol consumption, 'Drink Aware' recommend that men and women do not drink more than 14 units per week. This equates to:

Going dry for January is a fantastic way to start the New Year, but if you want to make some major long-term changes to your health and well-being it is important to keep a close eye on your alcohol consumption through the other 11 months of the year. If you've decided to do Dry January for 2017, good luck for the month ahead!

So, you have finally decided to take the leak and be evaluated for LASIK surgery. Before LASIK instructions often generate common questions. Likely, if you are a contact lens wearer, one of those questions is “do I need to take a break from my contacts before LASIK surgery?” The surgeon has one goal in mind and that is delivering every patient a long lasting optimum result and an outstanding patient experience. To do that, your surgeon does ask that you take a break from contacts both prior to the consultation and before LASIK surgery.

Here's why: Contact lenses come in contact with the clear front surface of your eye known as the cornea. They stay in place because they hold themselves onto the cornea like a miniature suction cup, so you can imagine that over time this little suction cup can distort the natural shape of the cornea. The amount of discrimination varies from person to person. However, even the most minor amount can lead to inaccurate data collected during your thorough consultation and subsequent programming of the lasers. Sometimes this inaccurate information can even lead to incorrectly thinking someone is not a good candidate before LASIK surgery.

Contact lenses are made of foreign material, meaning it is not something that is naturally provided to come in contact with your body. This stimulates your natural immune system to create inflammation, which is the mechanism your body and eyes use to fight off infections. The amount of inflammation caused by contact lenses can be very minimal with no symptoms or quite significant with lots of symptoms often making contact lenses uncomfortable. No matter the amount of pollution, it is important for this to be eliminated prior to your consultation so that our evaluation process is accurate. This is even more important before the LASIK procedure so that the healing process is normal and the output is optimal.

Contact lenses are miniature incubators of bacteria and other infectious organisms. So just like any medical procedure, we want to minimize the risk of infection and this is just another reason to take a break from contacts before LASIK surgery.

So now that you understand why it is so important to take a break from your contacts before LASIK eye surgery, it's time to answer our next question.

How long do I need to take a break from my contacts before LASIK surgery?

Important guidelines to follow before having LASIK eye surgery:

If you wear soft contacts lenses take a one-week break.

If you wear toric contacts for astigmatism take a three-week break.

If you sleep in your contacts, stop sleeping in them 3 weeks prior to your appointment.

There is no doubt the inconvenience of taking a break from your contacts before LASIK surgery is totally worth it in the long run. If you are ready to move on from the hassle of contacts and glasses and want to live more and see better, contact a local LASIK eye surgeon today.

Diet plays a major role in improving vision and protecting your eye health. In order to improve your eye health the eyes need a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and omega-3 fatty acid sources. An example of a diet that meets this criteria is the Mediterranean diet. What types of foods does the Mediterranean diet consist of? This diet is abundant in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, nuts and Olive Oil. Research suggests that people who live in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea report a longer life span than people from other countries of the world. They also have a lower risk for diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Therefore, here is some information regarding the general health benefits of the Mediterranean Diet and how it can help you improve your vision health:

Eye Health Benefits Of the Mediterranean Diet: The fact that this diet is abundant in fruits, vegetables and omega-3 rich fish sources; it is abundant in antioxidant nutrients and cuts the risks for inflammation. For example, Kale is rich in vision supporting nutrients that increase eye health. This diet consist of fish which is rich in Omega-3 Fatty acids that supports both eye and heart health.

A University Of Sydney Australia research study revealed that people who consumed only 1 serving of fish per week had reduced their risk for macular degeneration by 31%. The omega – 3 content of the Mediterranean Diet has a protective effect on eye health. This is due to the fact that it prevails plaque buildup in the treaties of the heart which in turn has a beneficial effect on the eyes thereby reducing inflammation on the retina.

A study conducted by The American Academy Of Ophthalmology showed that people on the Mediterranean Diet lowered their risk for the age related vision disease, macular degeneration by one third.

A study involving test subjects with type 2 diabetes with no complications between ages 55-80 participated in a study to determine the effects of the Mediterranean Diet on the rates of diabetic eye diseases and diabetic kidney diseases. A total of 3,614 people were involved in this study. 3 controlled groups were selected and each individual group were monitored to see which group reduced their risks for diabetic eye disease and diabetic kidney disease.

The first group ate a Mediterranean diet rich in extra – virgin Olive oil, the second group ate a similar diet with mixed nuts and the third group ate a low fat diet. Researchers recorded the rates of diabetic eye disease and diabetic kidney disease of these participants. The results of this study revealed that the group who ate a Mediterranean Diet rich in extra virgin olive oil were actually able to reduce their risks for diabetic eye diseases.

There is certainly a link between a healthy diet and better eye health. An example of such a healthy diet is the Mediterranean Diet. Due to the fact that it is abundant in fruits and vegetables and omega 3 -rich food sources it supports the health of the visual system. Ultimately, when you consume this kind of diet you feed your eyes with the right nutrition for promoting maximum eye and general health.

Eye health is a vital aspect of your health care that deserves special attention due to the fact that every activity that we partake in this life is visual. When we think about maintaining healthy eyesight it is very rare that we ever think that there is any connection between the health of our digestive system and the health of our eyes. Our body's systems do not function in isolation from one another. However, each system has connectivity. Take for example, if your digestive system is not working efficiently, then, your foods, vitamins and minerals will not be properly absorbed. Also, your body will not be able to utilize the nutrients in your food in such a way that the visual system could benefit from them and improve your eyesight. Therefore, here are some reasons why your digestive system and your visual system is connected. Additionally, here are some suggestions as to what you can do to improve your digestive health to improve your eyesight.

There is a connection between digestion in terms of consuming the proper nutrition and improving eyesight. This is due to the fact that our eyes require the right nutrients to function in an efficient and healthy manner. The visual system will not be able to utilize these essential nutrients properly without the proper digestive support and nutrient uptake from digestive enzymes.

This is also due to the fact that poor digestive support and lack of nutrients can lead to the development of various eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts. Poor digestive support of nutrients means that your eyes are not getting the maximum benefit from your foods, vitamins and minerals. This means that a lack of nutrients are being absorbed by the visual system which can lead to problems such as poor nutrient absorption, poor circulation to the blood vessel in the eyes and an increase in inflammation in the eyes.

Therefore, how can you improve digestion so that your visual system gets the maximum benefits from your nutrition for better eyesight and good eye health? Here are some suggestions to help you to accomplish that goal:

This can be done by replenishing your body's production of digestive enzymes that help to increase the break and absorption of foods in your digestive tract:

1 Cut back significantly on processed foods as these can deplete your body's production of digestive enzymes.

2 Incorporate into your diet raw foods. This is due to the fact that foods that are cooked or heated above at least 116 degrees Fahrenheit kills digestive enzymes. Therefore, eye care practitioners recommend eating raw vegetables and mixed salads as a means by which to replenish the body's production of digestive enzymes.

3 You can take a digestive enzyme supplement to increase your body's production of digestive enzymes. This is available at your neighborhood health food store.

4 Eat a variety of enzyme rich foods such as sprouted seeds and legumes. This is due to the fact that sprouting increases the level of enzyme production in foods. Some examples of foods that are abundant in enzymes include avocados, mangoes, kiwis, grapes, pineapples, raw honey, extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil to name a few.

The negative effects of stress on the body are generally physical, mental and emotional in nature. While a lot of research has been conducted on the effects of stress on the body as it relates to depression and anxiety, less research has been conducted as to how these factors affect your vision health. However, did you know that some levels of stress can also contribute to the development of eye diseases as well? Researchers are now linking quality of life issues related to extremely stressful living situations with a decline in the health of aging eyes. Therefore, here is some information related to the connection between stress and eye diseases.

Glaucoma: Researchers have identified poor quality of life factors related to depression and anxiety as contributing factors to the development of Glaucoma. Eye care practitioners recognized that the root causes of this chronic eye disease were related to situations where the patient was exposed to extreme levels of stress.

Macular Degeneration: Like Glaucoma Some factors that contributed indirectly to macular degeneration were linked to depression and anxiety. For example, patients who were emotionally and mentally stressed out felt that their macular degeneration symptoms began to deteriorate. Researchers also discovered that the patients who felt stressed out found that there were not breathing normally. Natural eye care practitioners have identified a link between healthy breathing patterns and healthy eyesight. This is due to the fact that about one – third of the air that we breach goes to feed the visual system. Therefore, there is a connection between poor breathing and bad eyesight. Researchers have also pointed out that stress was the main culprit responsible for the worsening of macular degeneration in patients. Factors related to extremely stressful living conditions associated with trauma, injuries and the loss of a loved one were contributing factors to the worsening of this eye disease.

Stress and Cataracts: Researchers have discovered that one of the risk factors for cataracts is the over-consumption of alcohol. There is an indirect relationship between alcoholism and stressful situations related to physical injuries, pain and physiological problems. All of these factors are indirectly contributed to stressful emotional and mental situations that contributed to alcoholism. Stress is the root cause of these problems. Once again poor breathing due to stress caused the patient's breathing to become shallow. This contributed to a worsening of cataracts as the patient's shallow breathing caused their visual system to become depleted of a sufficient amount of oxygen and circulation to function efficiently.

The solution to coping with these stressful situations is to take time out for yourself to relax. Take breaks from your hectic schedule 15 minutes a day to find a quiet room. Close your eyes and breathe naturally and rhythmically from your abdomen. In the meantime, visualize your eye muscles relaxing. Setting aside time for meditation or attaching a yoga class, or taking a quiet walk in the park with some light to moderate exercise are good ways to reduce stress. Ultimately, these relaxation tips can help you to do the things you need to do to relax the visual system. Ultimately, reducing your stress levels and relieving stress and tension are good ways to maintain the health of your eyes.

When we think about essential vision supporting nutrients that are good for eye health vitamins and nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, C and E often come to mind. However, did you know that Vitamin D is also an essential vision nutrient that plays a vital role in improving your vision and protecting your eye health? Therefore, here are some eye health benefits and general health benefits of vitamin D:

While this Vitamin is known for its important general health benefits that are associated with building strong bones and teeth and preventing the disease Rickets, more recent research is discovering that the health functions of vitamin D extend way beyond these benefits. For example, recent research has established a link between an increased intake of vitamin D and a reduction in the risks for certain diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Furthermore, recent research is also discovering the benefits of Vitamin D in age proofing the eyes and reducing the risks for eye diseases like Macular Degeneration. Therefore, here are the benefits of vitamin D for better vision health:

Eye Health Benefits: A study conducted by Jama, Ophthalmology, has established a link among reduced risks for the age related eye disease macular degeneration and an increased intake of vitamin D. Health care practitioners though ever warn against dosages higher than 400 IUs as this may increase the risk for the development of kidney stones. Additional research has also revealed that Vitamin D intake is also associated with a reduction in inflammation in the eyes and vision improvement. Also, a study conducted by the Journal of Rheumatic Diseases has identified a link between vitamin D and an improvement in dry eye due to the anti-inflammatory properties of this vision nutrient. This is also due to the fact that it has the ability to produce a protein called cathelicidin essential in healing eye wounds that possesses antibacterial properties.

According to health care practitioners, 95% of American seniors are suffering from a major Vitamin D deficiency. Deficiencies are often related to the fact that an increasing number of people are now spending more time indoors and lack exposure to beneficial sunlight sources of Vitamin D. This also relates to people living in northern latitudes that lack exposure to sunlight. Beside sunlight some other sources of Vitamin D include milk, eggs and fish. Vitamin D is extremely, one of the essential vision supporting nutrients for better vision and good general health

You are particularly familiar with the concept that regular physical exercise not only builds muscle but helps you to lose weight and increase athletic performance. You are also aware of the fact that the resulting improvement in your physical appearance can also make you feel good about yourself and improve your self-confidence. Another concept of exercise exists. This kind of exercise helps you to improve your vision naturally by exercising the muscles in your eyes. These muscles control the focusing power of your vision for better natural vision without glasses. But did you know that the benefits of the successful pursuit of an eye exercise program goes way beyond clear natural eyesight but also extends to giving you greater confidence? Therefore, here are some reasons why pursuing an eye exercise program to improve your vision naturally can result in an increase in your confidence levels:

Successful Goal Accomplishment Leads To Confidence: The pursuit of an eye exercise program is a goal that you are pursuing in order to achieve better natural vision without glasses. This goal comes with many accomplishments related to achieving greater freedom and independence from your glasses, eye strain relief, and preventive treatment of age related vision disorders. When we have achieved a goal in life there is a sense of satisfaction that we generally feel that companies that achievement. We feel good about ourselves for having succeeded at what we set out to achieve. These positive feelings of accomplishment can result in an increase in self-esteem which in turn can also lead to confidence.

Enhancing physical Health: Pursuing an eye exercise program goes way beyond just improving your vision naturally, but it enhances your health and general well-being. This is due to the fact that you also release stress and tension in the visual system and other parts of the body as well. This release of stress not only makes you feel good psychologically but it helps you become more positive and confident in your ability to face life's challenges. The program also teaches stress management techniques for better vision. These techniques help you to release stress and tension in the mind and the body as well with a positive approach to solving life's challenges. Therefore, this increases your confidence levels in different areas of your life.

Enhancement of Your Appearance Leads to Confidence: When you look good you feel good too. Feeling good about your appearance gives you confidence. If you pursue these easy and simple eye exercise techniques on a regular basis, you will find that your eyes will glow with vitality and health and they will become more radiant and beautiful.

Many different factors lead to self-confidence. The benefits of pursuing an eye exercise program goes way beyond just improving your vision naturally, but the fringe benefits that relate to successful goal accomplishment, improvement of physical health and appearance, extremely, work collectively in helping you to increase self-confidence in different aspects of your life.